The second week of the season is not supposed to feel as harrowing as it does for the Giants.
It is not that they dropped their opener, because exactly half of the teams in the NFL did just that. The Giants lost more than a game in Dallas, as halfback Brandon Jacobs won’t suit up in the Giants Stadium opener against the Packers. Quarterback Eli Manning and defensive end Osi Umenyiora also left the Dallas game, and although both appear set to give it a go today, there’s no telling how long they’ll last or how effective they’ll be. If you drew up a list of the five most indispensable players on the roster, those three would be on the list.
An offense that hummed along to the tune of 35 points must consider taking the field without its conductor. A defense that bungled its way to allowing a ghastly 45 points must regain, first and foremost, its credibility.
There are no easy answers. Here are some of the questions and concerns for the Giants in Week 2:
BEST BATTLE
The best defensive end you don’t know much about is Aaron Kampman, who earned his first Pro Bowl trip last season as a reward for his NFC-leading 15½ sacks. He also amassed 113 tackles, the most ever for a Green Bay defensive lineman. The Giants hope that right tackle Kareem McKenzie can subdue Kampman, who’s been bothered recently by a rib injury. If healthy, Kampman might loom as an even larger threat in this particular game if Manning is on the sideline. Remember, backup Jared Lorenzen is a left-handed quarterback, meaning his blind side is opposite that of Manning. The right tackle protects Lorenzen’s blind side, which would put McKenzie on the spot.
INSIDE THE HUDDLE
The last time Derrick Ward started a game at running back was in 2003, when he was playing for Ottawa University in Kansas, an NAIA school that, it’s safe to assume, didn’t have the look and feel of Giants Stadium. With Jacobs out of commission because of a knee injury, Ward – with help from Reuben Droughns – must find a way to establish a running game or else the Packers defense, a really solid group, will force the quarterback to beat them, which could be a problem for the Giants.
HERE’S THE KICKER
After a shaky summer, new kicker Lawrence Tynes had a smashing Giants debut, going 3-for-3 on field goals, including makes from 44 and 48 yards. Tynes, though, hit the Dallas turf in a heap after straining his right calf on a kickoff and missed nearly all of practice this week. Meanwhile, Packers rookie Mason Cosby became the first kicker to make a 50-yard-plus field goal, then nail a game-winning field goal in the final minute of his first NFL game. If this game goes down to the wire and a late field goal is needed, watch out.
IRON MAN
No, not Tony Stark in the newest Marvel comic book-turned-movie creation, but the real-life version, Brett Favre, who this afternoon adds on to his NFL record with his 239th consecutive start at quarterback (259 including playoff games). Manning in his young career has been the picture of durability with 40 straight regular-season starts, but that streak will be tested today because of a contusion to the A-C joint in his right shoulder.
“I separated my left shoulder one time,” said Favre, who, like Manning, throws with his right arm. “Had it been my right, could I have played? Eh, I don’t know. I am glad I didn’t have to find out.”
HOT SEAT
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo promised an aggressive scheme imported from the Eagles. Too bad he couldn’t bring along Philly’s personnel as well. Despite the presence of Favre, the Packers are no offensive dynamo. The Pack beat the Eagles last week despite managing just 10 first downs, 46 rushing yards and 215 total yards. Spagnuolo’s unit had better show some muscle today after getting torched in the opener in Dallas.
“We’re not going to talk about wins, but we can guarantee a better defensive performance,” linebacker Antonio Pierce said. “Right now we’re at the bottom of the pack on defense, we’re looking up at 31 teams. No way did I envision our first game going down like that. Everything we did out there is very correctable. It’s nothing where there’s some mysterious magic we have to do.”
PAUL’S PREDICTION
GIANTS – 17
PACKERS – 16
Giants need to make this an ugly, low-scoring affair and don’t appear to have much going for them. Can they throw the ball with an ailing Manning or, if necessary, Lorenzen, run it without Jacobs and stop anyone on defense? A hunch here says yes to some of those questions.